Assianoe of one-half to



(No Model.)

W. A. PACKARD. DASH-BOARD FOR VEHICLES.

Patented Apr. 3,1883.

wtzesses: I WM UNITED STATES WALES AJPAOKARD, OF URBANA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILSON M. BAKER, OF SAME PLACE.

DASH-BOARD FOR VEHICLES SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,257, dated April-3, 1883.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALES A. PACKARD, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Urbana, in the county of Ohampaign and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protecting-Strips for Dash-Rails, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to guardstrips for vehicle-dash irons; and it consists in a leather strip of stiff leather provided with a grooved edge to receive one edge of the dash-iron, and with two soft-leather strips cemented to the side of said guard, and having projecting flanges for the purpose of covering the dashiron.

The details ot'construction and arrangement of the several parts will be hereinafter more fully set l'o'rth in the specification and claims and pointed out in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a front elevation of a vehicledash involving my improved guard. Fig. 2 is a section of the grooved guard-piece; Fig. 3, a section of the said guard-piece and the side strips; and Fig. 4, a section of the guard piece, side strips, and dash-iron.

It is an important matter to preserve and protectfrom wear the outside cover of the dash. This cover is generally of enameled leather sewed above and below the dash-iron, leaving an exposed edge, which is'easily and quickly worn and cut by the harness-reins and other wear incidental thereto, and when so worn is not easily or cheaply replaced, as it usually necessitates the replacement of the entire dash-covering.

The object of my invention is to provide a guard-strip that will obviate this wear, that can be readily placed upon the dash-irons, and that can be replaced without destroying the dash-c0vering. To accomplish this I cut a strip of leather, A, the length of an ordinary dash-iron and of suitable height, and in its lower or inner edge out a groove or channel, 0, in which the outside edge of the dash-iron 0 enters. The strips may of course be cut to lengths of carriage or buggy dashes. To the sides of the guard-piece A, I cement strips of soft leather, B, having projecting flanges B. The guard in this condition is ready for use by the manufacturer, all that is necessary being to place the grooved edge 0 on the edge of the dash-iron, then cement, paste, or glue the strips B to said iron and sew the covering or body D to the guard and around the iron, as indicated by the seams a b, Fig. l. The upper edge is then smoothed on" by a smoothingiron, and may he covered with black varnish to give it the appearance of the enamel-leather, thus forming a neat finish. The guard can extend entirely around the dash-irons, or be placed only at the top, where there is most wear from the harness-reins.

This device forms a valuable acquisition to a carriage maluifacturers supplies, as these guards can be kept on hand ready for use, thereby saving thetime of a workman and the cost of material in their manufacture.

I may use hard rubber perforated for the stitches instead of the leather A.

Having thus described my invention,what I clainris- 1. As a new article of manufacture, a guard for dash-irons, consisting of a strip of stiff leather provided with a grooved edge, and two side strips cemented to said guard-piece, and having projecting flanges adapted to be ccmented to the sides of the dash-iron, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a guard for dash-irons, the combination, with a grooved piece of stiii leather, A, of the soft-leather side pieces, B, having the projecting flanges B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 5th day of January, 1883.

l/VALES A. PACKARD.

Witnesses W. M. BAKER, MICHAEL GALLIGHER. 

